DayOne's Reviews
WWE 2K26 does exactly what a yearly sports game should do. It fixes some minor issues from the previous title. The Island mode is more enjoyable, going full in on the wacky version of what wrestling games can be.
Vampire Therapist is a chilled experience to play through, and one that I enjoyed from start to finish. It was educational but not preachy, and the humour, voice acting and storyline kept me entertained. I had a couple of gripes, but overall – you could say I’m definitely in the ‘fang-club’.
The world of Novo is as captivating as ever. The puzzles on offer, enhanced with deeper mechanics are well thought out, and the expanded narrative provides some answers and takes some risks with its story telling. Planet of Lana 2 can’t quite escape feeling a little familiar, but who’s going to complain about more of such a good thing?
iRacing Arcade is a good time, but it comes short of true greatness. The presentation is cute, and the driving model makes for a solid arcade romp to waste some time on. But the snappy controls make faster cars not very pleasant to drive, which heavily impacts its viability as a “serious” arcade racer. A shame, because it boasts a fairly impressive list of tracks, a solid online suite and leaderboards, as well, on top of being tremendously well optimized.
But Tribute has done great work here. Where scrolling beat ’em ups like this can often get really repetitive and stale, Scott Pilgrim EX really has a nice blend of customisation, character variety and replayability to give it some legs. Sadly it doesn’t have as many modes and extras as Tributes other work or the original 2010 game, but what’s here on offer is still really really good.
Resident Evil Requiem is an amazing title, balancing survival-horror and balls to the wall action like few ever have before.
POOLS is quite literally a walking game. No story, progression, dialogue or clear message to speak of – it’s all about vibes and interpretation, despite having some sort of an endign that’s open to interpretation. It’s a short but fascinating ride, even though there is barely any gameplay, which may turn away some people.
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition is how such remasters should be done. All versions, all the content you could imagine, tons of modern emulation tricks, a never before available playable prototype, and a brilliant new documentary to boot. It’s even priced well, at 19.99 USD/EUR! Now… can we please get a similar treatment for the Rayman sequels?
Playing Tales of Berseria now through this remaster, I’m reminded (once again) of why I shouldn’t let past entries in a series deter me from trying future games in a series. Berseria is fun to play and features a cast of characters you’ll enjoy to watch as they make a mess of things. A great JRPG to hop into if and when you’re feeling a bit vengeful and all reason is lost.
Dice A Million gets what makes rogue-lites so damned fun to play, with a solid soundtrack and interesting visuals. I can see myself playing it for years to come.
What we’re left with is a mostly competent, not particularly memorable arcade racer with a handful of highs, but some baffling lows as well.
God of War Sons of Sparta has a weak start, solid middle, and strong ending. If you can get through a tedious first few hours you will eventually be rewarded with solid combat and an emotional story.
High On Life 2 is bigger yet smaller. It’s both bold and more reserved in how it dishes out gameplay mechanics and story beats. I loved my 15 hours with it
REANIMAL doesn’t give us all the answers by the time the credits roll. There’s no comforting closure here – it’s a game and a world that lingers. I have so many unanswered questions, so many theories. Tarsier Studios have taken their signature DNA and refined it – it’s not perfect, but it’s a sharp, confident experience.
Romeo is a Dead Man, I feel, is a tremendous example of style being enough to shoulder the burden that comes with a lack of substance. So much of the game’s action, along with its systems, feels antiquated enough that it shouldn’t be memorable at all. Yet with innovative art direction, a Suda-typical contrast of ideas, and unconventional, albeit confusing, story craft, Romeo is a Dead Man’s style proves irresistible.
It took six entries, but the RIDE franchise has finally graduated. What used to be promising, enjoyable, but ultimately not particularly remarkable motorcycle racers, now gave way to RIDE 6 – a legitimately great bike racing game.
Kotama’s game doesn’t always nail every aspect that same of the greats of the genre do, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t have a solid combat system, boss fights, and excellent visuals and information relaying. This is a solid Metroidvania title to add to your ever-increasing backlog.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a mostly competent remake of an original that needed an update. The combat and upgrade changes are welcome, though those in the ending and its attempt to justify the expansion are not.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is a mechanically satisfying destruction-based racer, offering high-octane and chaotic races combining bold weapons, lots of zombies and lots of crunching metal.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is both a relaxing and oddly time-consuming cosy life sim adventure. If getting things done day-by-day sounds like an appealing premise, this is a game for you. You’ll get to hang out with a family of Sanrio characters as you build your homes and trick yourself out. It’s a good time here on the island of Big Adventure Park, and I don’t think there’s anything quite like this one out there.